Working On Your Business Not In Your Business

7 Ways to Give Your Startup the Best Chance of Success by

Working on Your Business, Not in Your Business

Meet Sara and Joe: A Tale of Two Startups

Meet Sara and Joe

Sara and Joe were both tired of the 9-to-5 grind. They hated their job.

They dreamed of escaping the endless boring meetings, the drudgery of it all, the repetitious mind-numbing business systems and the feeling of being stuck in a job they hate.

I Quit !!!

So, they did something brave—they quit their jobs and started their businesses. However, their journeys took very different paths.

Sara quickly found herself overwhelmed. She worked 12-hour days, doing everything herself.

Sara was excited about her business idea, but she quickly found herself overwhelmed. She worked 12-hour days, doing everything herself—from answering customer emails to shipping products.

Working On Your Business Not In Your Business

She was “in” her business, doing all the day-to-day tasks.

Conversely, Joe opted for a different strategy. Working on your business not in your business. With the guidance of his mentor he dedicated time to planning, strategizing, and recruiting the right individuals for managing the processes.

Joe is working “on” his business, relaxed but focused on the big picture.

Joe was working “on” his business, focusing on growth and the big picture.

2 Years On

Two years later, Sara was exhausted and her business was struggling.

Sara is exhausted, struggling with doing everything. Working in her business and not on her business.

Joe’s business, meanwhile, was thriving, and he had time to take vacations and enjoy life. The difference? Joe understood the importance of working on your business not in your business.

Joe’s business is thriving, and he has the time to take vacations and enjoy life.

So, how can you be like Joe and set yourself up for success? Here are seven ways to be sure you’re working on your business, not in it.

1. Delegate Like a Boss

Joe meets with his mentor weekly while delegating tasks to his team members via Zoom.

One of the first things Joe did was get himself involved with an experienced mentor to guide him and train him to manage each step according to his blueprint. Then he outsourced a virtual assistant to handle the minor tasks that ate up his time.

On the contrary, Sara believed that doing everything on her own would be a money-saving strategy. But while Sara was stuck answering emails, Joe was meeting potential investors and growing his business according to the plan.

The Lesson: Don’t attempt to accomplish everything alone. Identify tasks that someone else can do. Train them and delegate. This frees you up to focus on what matters—Working on your business not in your business

2. Create Systems and Processes

Joe was all about efficiency. With the expert help and guidance from his mentor, he created systems for everything. Every department had a process—from customer service to marketing. This meant that even when he wasn’t around, things ran smoothly. He could run the business remotely from the software incorporated into the systems.

Having no systems and processes in place eventually leads to chaos.

Sara, however, didn’t have a mentor nor any systems in place, which led to chaos whenever she wasn’t in the office.

The lesson: Take the time to create systems and processes for your business. This saves time and ensures consistency. The key to building a reliable brand.

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3. Focus on Strategy, Not Just Tasks

Sara’s to-do list was never-ending. Her intense focus on completing daily tasks left no room for considering the direction of her business. She couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Joe, set aside time every week to plan and strategize. He continually looked at the big picture. He utilized reliable evidence to make decisions that would aid the expansion of his business.

The lesson: Don’t get so caught up in day-to-day ‘stuff’ that you forget to think about the future. Regularly set aside time to work on your business strategy. Where do you want your business to be in one year? Five years? Make a plan and stick to it.

4. Hire the Right People

Joe knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he invested and hired the right team. He brought in experts who were better at certain tasks than he was.

Sara had reservations about hiring believing it costly. She just didn't get it.

On the flip side, Sara had reservations about hiring because she believed it was too costly. But this meant she was always overworked and her business couldn’t grow. Penny wise, pound foolish. (an old English proverb)

The lesson: Don’t be afraid to hire people better at certain tasks than you are. Get yourself a mentor first up. A strong team can take your business to the next level and free you up to focus on growth.

5. Automate Where You Can

Joe loved technology, and he used it to his advantage. He automated as much of his business as possible—from social media posts to inventory management.

Joe loved technology, and he used it to his advantage. He automated as much of his business as possible.

Sara was still doing everything manually, which took up much of her time.

The lesson: Take advantage of automation tools. They can save you a ton of time and help you stay organized. The more you automate, the more time you have to work on growing your business.

6. Network and Build Relationships

Joe networks and builds relationships with other entrepreneurs, potential customers, and investors. Joe is at work on his business.

While Sara was busy managing the daily grind, Joe was out networking. He built relationships with other entrepreneurs, potential customers, and investors. These connections opened doors for him that Sara never had access to.

The lesson: Don’t underestimate the power of networking. Building relationships can lead to new opportunities, partnerships, shareholders and customers. Make time to connect.

7. Take Care of Yourself

Finally, Joe understood the importance of self-care. He knew that if he got burned out, his business would suffer. So, he took breaks, exercised, and spent time with his family.

Continually working in your business. Continually doing it and doing it and doing it does not cut it.

However, Sara overexerted herself and experienced perpetual fatigue and irritability.

The lesson: Remember that you are the most important asset to your business. Take care of yourself so you can show up as your best self for your business.

Summary

Yes, Sara and Joe are just an imaginary story, however it graphically imitates the real issues of startups.

These guys started with the same dream, but their approaches made all the difference.

Sara’s decision to work in her business left her tired and stressed, while Joe’s focus of working on his business allowed him to create a thriving, sustainable company.

As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, be a 'Joe’.

Don’t get bogged down in the daily tasks to keep your business running. Don't be a Sara, change.

Focus on the big picture—growth, strategy, and building a strong team.

Work on your business, not in it, you’ll give yourself the best chance of success.

The first employee should be a mentor.

Your business should serve you, not the other way around.

So take a step back, delegate, and start building the business of your dreams!

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